Family Reunification in Bosnia and Herzegovina
One documented route of this kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Temporary Residence for Family Reunification & Marriage
Residence based on family ties: marriage with a BiH citizen, common-law (extramarital) partnership, spouse of a resident foreigner, newborn with parents, child of a BiH-citizen or foreign parent, or parent of a BiH-citizen child. Note that family reunification with an ineligible sponsor does not count toward permanent residence.
- Processing time
- Not published as a fixed figure by SPS
- Validity
- Up to 1 year, renewable annually
- Language requirement
- None for the permit; official-language knowledge required only at PR/citizenship stages
- Permanent residence
- 5 years of continuous temporary residence (where the sponsor is eligible)
- Citizenship
- Spouses of BiH citizens: facilitated naturalisation after 5 years of marriage plus 3 years of permanent residence (Art. 10)
Requirements
- Document proving the family relationship (marriage or birth certificate)
- Sponsor's BiH ID or residence card
- Valid passport plus Visa D or visa-free entry
- Address registration after arrival
- Residence application at SPS at least 15 days before the visa-free/Visa D period expires
- Accommodation, proof of means, health insurance, criminal-record certificate, sworn translations
Required Documents
- Marriage or birth certificate proving the relationship required
- Sponsor's BiH ID or residence card required
- Proof of accommodation and means required
- Health insurance and criminal-record certificate required
- Sworn translations of foreign documents required
Process Steps
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1
Gather relationship proof
Obtain the marriage or birth certificate and the sponsor's BiH ID or residence card.
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2
Visa D / entry and registration
Obtain a Visa D or enter visa-free, then register the residence address.
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3
File at SPS
Submit the residence application (abroad via DKP or in-country) respecting the 15-day-before-expiry deadline.
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4
Receive and renew
Receive the residence card and renew annually.